When “we” became “three”…..

It’s a girl.
She is amazing.

Beatrice Claire was born on April 22 at 9:23 am. She weighed 9 pounds, 6 ounces.

She is beautiful.

After her delivery

It’s so weird… I look at her, and I love her so much… I can’t even describe it. I look at her and I see Jason. She’s like this amazing, constant reminder of how much I love him, and how happy I am to be a mother and a wife.

Anyway, here are some of my favorite pictures from the first few days. Now that she is here, I will have to come up with a new blog name to make it official.

Praying Bea

Sassy!

Little hat.

44 hours and counting…

Everything is washed, decorated, cleaned, bought and stored. Diaper changing stations are set up, vibrating chairs and pack and plays are built, names are picked…

Now, we wait until Wednesday morning.

Jason and I have been enjoying the last of our times together as a “couple,” and are so ready to meet this little person who will soon be joining us.

This weekend, Jason and I did a belly cast.

It’s cool, isn’t it? We’ll paint it once the little one arrives. We had fun doing it and Jason did a great job as a sculptor/caster.

Finally, here is the last of my belly pics… This is me at 39 weeks.

39 weeks and my maternity clothes are very snug.

For comparison, here is a shot of me when I thought I was “showing.” Little did I know…

Early on...

Anyway, thank you for reading our little Vollbaby updates. Later this week, we’ll post pics and updates of our new addition!

XO
e and j

One week to go!

Wow… this time next Wednesday, we will be preparing for a c-section, and getting ready to see our baby for the first time!

Jason and I are taking advantage of our last week of baby-free livin’ by eating dinner out every night. There will be plenty of time for take out, frozen meals and crockery cooking.

We’ve also finished decorating the nursery! I love that it doesn’t look too babyish. We chose earthy tones like brown, moss, orange and yellow with some purple and blue thrown in here and there to change it up a bit.

This is the crib and dresser. I stretched fabric over canvas frames and painted circles the colors that correspond with the baby’s mobile.

'da crib

Changing table. I went with polka dot fabric for this side.

changing table

And this is the door to the room with the glider. We saved this wall to hang the belly cast once we finish doing it and painting it.

More updates to come!

XO
erica and jason

12 days ’til the ‘hood….

Parenthood, that is.

Yes, baby Voll will be a big baby… and due to the possibility of shoulder dyscosia and a host of other complications that could arise during labor, I am having a C-section on April 22.

There was a slight possibility the baby would make his/her debut on April 20, but thank goodness that changed. Not only would our first child have a strong connection with a national marijuana smoking holiday, it was pointed out to me she would share a birthday with Hitler. So, as you can see, 4/22 is much more appealing.

Anyway, a lot has been going on since we last checked in.

I got to take advantage of the much coveted “Expectant Mother” parking spot at the mall:

Walking is tough.

I used to scoff at this parking spot. After all, expecting moms can walk, can’t they? But since being pregnant, I’ve realized that yes, pregnant women are physically challenged and deserve a special parking spot.

Jason and I had another baby shower! A big thank you to Dan and Mary Anne for hosting a great shower.

And thank you to Claire for sending me this great shot of Shawn and Nichole feeling baby Voll kick.

Van Damme Voll.

And finally, here are some 38-week-ish belly shots.

Spring is in my shirt, not in my step.

Pregnant women usually have their hands attached to their back.

I want to add… I normally don’t put in bare belly shots, but I feel especially proud that I managed to avoid any stretch marks throughout this entire pregnancy.

However, I also find it very ironic that while I did manage to successfully avoid getting the dreaded battle wounds, I will have a lovely C-section scar.

No stretch marks here!

I’ll update everyone soon!

XO
e

We’re having a big baby

Holding up my belly at 35-ish weeks

There we were, in our 35-week ultrasound, and the technician was measuring the baby’s head. I said, “The head is big, isn’t it?” and she said, “Um, the baby is big… it weighs 7 pounds 7 ounces.”

Um, that is what babies are supposed to weigh at birth… 40 weeks… not at 35 weeks.

According to my baby books, and the semi-reliable internet, at this point, the baby should be gaining about 1/2 a pound a week. Therefore, we are looking at at least a 10-pound baby.

That’s a big baby.

If you don’t already know, I was a big baby- 11 pounds and 24 inches long at birth, so really our babe being so big comes as no surprise.

Like the perinatologist told us, “It may be able to walk to the nursery, but at least the baby will be healthy.”

In fact, our baby has already outgrown some of the newborn things we got for shower gifts….and, speaking of…

We had two baby showers! One, from my awesome co-workers (Thank you everyone! The baby gift card will buy a pack and play!)

And, another baby shower was thrown for me by my Mom and Nana! It was beautiful, and a great way to celebrate our upcoming parenthood. With everything we got, Vollbaby should be set!

Now for some 34 and 35 week bely pics. You can see exactly what I’m talking about when I tell you we are having a big babe!

Work Shower: 33-ish weeks

My baby shower at work

Cake #1... Yummy!

Shower from Mom and Nana: 34 weeks

Me, Jeannie and Sue

In just about every photo of me opening up my gifts, my legs are spread apart and I look ridiculous. I would say someone should have warned me, but honestly, I am so much more comfortable sitting this way!

me and a giant gift bag!

My mom and our friend Pauline made this Snowman suit for the babe. I love this!

Snowman snow suit

And Jason’s dad made this Build-A-Bear for Vollbaby. Notice… the bear looks just like Jason complete with checkerboard Vans.

Cute bear, sweaty Erica

Wait a minute… it has to come out???

Wow… 7 weeks to go!

Here I am... 33 weeks down, 7 to go!

I have to admit, since becoming pregnant, I’ve decided to just go with the flow. I don’t really question every ache and pain, I listen to my doctors, and I just sort of let my body do its thing.

That’s why I hesitated a bit when I enrolled us into “Labor Basics” class at Virtua. Sure, I had a general idea of what would happen during delivery, but I wasn’t sure exactly how much I wanted to know about everything that would go on “down there.” I figured I was in good hands and I would leave it to the professionals.

Still, I thought maybe the class would be a “rite of passage,” and Jason and I would have some awesome bonding over our upcoming parenthood.

The class started out pretty basic. It addressed common questions, aches, pains and side effects of being pregnant. Still, I knew we’d be in trouble when I saw the men in class wince when the word “hemorrhoids” popped up on the screen.

It wasn’t until they showed diagrams of episiotomies (apparently, there are two ways to do it) that there was an audible gasp! in the room. It was like a horrific car accident. We wanted to look away, but we just couldn’t stop staring in amazement.

I looked over to Jason and said, “So, what kind of jewelry should I expect to get for a ‘push present’?”
He looked at me and said, “Anything you want- anything!”

We watched a video of women giving birth. Apparently in the 80s, when this video was filmed, many women gave birth naked wearing only scrunchie socks and dangly earrings. To be fair, childbirth probably hasn’t changed since the 80s…

Who knew?

It was a great class, we learned a lot, and I now know why so many women prefer C-sections!

Next week, we get to learn about circumcision. Stay tuned…

Freddie

I want to be clear: Before there was Vollbaby, there was Freddie Mitchell.

Our babes.

Since we got him from the animal shelter in 2005, Freddie has snuggled, licked and wiggled his way into our hearts. He’ll be a great big brother, but I am not sure how excited he will be to share the attention in the house…

This picture says it all

Don’t worry, Fred, you’ll always be our favorite furbaby.

I look great.

I’m not lying. I look great. Everyone tells me so.

31 weeks: I look great

I don’t care if they are flat out lying to my face, or they are trying to make me feel good before they ask me for a work favor, this is what they tell me.

I look great.

The receptionist at the doctor’s office told me so just yesterday.

Why would she lie?

Yes, I’ve put on 40 pounds or so, but no one notices because it’s “baby weight.” Surely, it will come off just as soon as I start breast feeding.

Right?

Shopping used to be fun…

…and then I got pregnant.

Not only does being pregnant take away the some of the finer things in life like vodka martinis, sushi and clear skin, it also robs you of small pleasures like sleeping on your back, breathing clearly through your nose and – of course – shopping.

Being the pregnant goddess I am, I wanted to look good while I was cooking the little one. However, every time I went shopping with friends, I was limited to accessories, purses and makeup.*

My mom was my savior. She’d send me maternity clothing she found at consignment shops, thrift stores and sales at JC Penny. The clothing she sent was absolutely adorable and I got tons of compliments.

My in-laws gave me a gift certificate to Destination Maternity. It’s like, a cool, chic, hip store for girls with growing bellies. I went last week.

It was amazing.

The staff was amazing, trendy music scored my shopping experience… they offered me juice and water while I shopped, and there was a bathroom right there in the store… for customers!

I wasn’t ready to hit the bottle of Grey Goose, or eat some raw tuna, but for 2 hours… I felt “normal.” I didn’t feel like a fat girl in the mall!

So, if you are pregnant, or planning to get pregnant, do yourself a favor and stay away from those tried and true boutiques in the city… embrace the belly! You are a new woman! Get thee to thy maternity mall!

*For the record, there is nothing wrong with makeup, accessories or purses.

Toots, tears and tales of hormonal rage

Since I’ve been pregnant, I’ve been in a constant state of PMS-rage. It’s a mix between being on the verge of crying, and on the verge of screaming at someone.

That someone is usually Jason, and the crazy times sound a little like this:

Loving husband Jason: Hey babe, what do you want for dinner?
Raging pregnant lady Erica: I don’t care! Why do I have to make all the decisions around here anyway?? Just pick something and MAKE IT for God’s sake!

and this:

Loving husband Jason: Hey babe, wake up, it’s time to get up for work.
Raging pregnant lady Erica: I HEARD YOU THE FIRST TIME!!

I know, it’s not fair.

But perhaps the most undeserving moment of hormonal hysterics came about when I was just a few months pregnant.

I tooted in front of Jason.

Before this, I like to think Jason has never heard me toot, and he would probably let me think that forever had this nor just happened. This time, he heard it – we made eye contact – and he let out a little laugh.

A very little laugh.

He wasn’t pointing and laughing, it was a teeny giggle.

I began to bawl.

And it was bawling-couldn’t-catch-my-breath-snot-coming-down-my-face-for-five-minutes kind of bawling.

Jason was consoling me, telling me it was okay… but really, it was ridiculous. I am sure he thought I was insane, while simultaneously wondering where his seemingly normal wife had gone.

If you get a chance, please tell Jason how he is really an awesome husband and dad-to-be. And be sure to tell him the girl he married is in there… somewhere.

Finally… a few more belly pics.
To all of you saying I am “all belly,” thank you for the compliments. I think I can no longer hide that I am getting big… everywhere.

And for comparison, here is a photo of me in the same dress, just 8 weeks ago…

Love,
Erica